Fall-board mechanism for pianos.



No. 791,426. PATENTBD MAY 30, 1905. W. P. KELLY.

FALL BOARD MECHANISM FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED 110v. 21, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented may 30, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FALL-BOARD MECHANISM FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,426, dated May 30,1905.

A li ati fil d November 21, 190a. Serial No. 233,777.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, \VTLLIAM P. KELLY, a resident of the city ofAnsonia, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Fall-Board Mechanism for Pianos,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pianos, and particularl y to that class ofpianos known as the upright, and which has amusic-desk pivoted in thefront of the case above the keys, so that its lower end may be swungoutwardly from the case toward the player, thus forming an easellikesupport for the music directly in front of the player. It is customaryin this class of pianos to inclose the front portion of the keys with acover extending longitudinally of the case and to also inclose the spacebetween the rear end of the cover and the lower end of the verticalfront portion of the case over the keys with a further cover or covers.These latter are of various configurations, according to the style ofthe instrument, and are known in the trade as the fall-board, which isshown and described herein as being rigid and substantially L-shaped.

My invention consists of intervening mechanism arranged between thefall-board and music-rest and in the rear of the same in such a mannerthat when the cover and the fallboard are moved back to expose the keysthe intervening mechanism will operate to throw out the lower end of themusic-rest.

y invention also consists of further details of construction and mannerof operation more specifically described in the following specificationand appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure I is a cross-sectional view of a fragmentaryportion of a piano when closed. Fig. 2 is the same view taken in Fig. 1,but showing the piano open. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the fall-board andlever shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a fragmentary portionof the lever.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the top of the case of the piano havinga vertical front face B, in which swings the musicdesk C. I have shownthe music-desk pivoted at its topmost portion at 0; but the same may bepivoted at any intermediate portion thereof, so

board.

that when it is swung out into the oblique position shown in Fig. 2 theportion above the pivot will swing back into the case. At the lower endof the music-rest and integral therewith is a ledge 0 having a head atits front edge 0", thus forming a support for the lower edges of themusic-sheets, the backs of which rest against the music-rest C. Belowthe music-rest C is located the shelf D, which projects forwardly fromthe vertical front face of the case beyond the music-rest C when thesame is thrown outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. The forward ends of thekeys are inclosed throughout their entire length by the cover E, whichis hinged to the L-shaped fall-board F, the latter being in turn hingedlongitudinally to the support G. This support is fastened at its ends tothe case and has a felt lining g on its bottom side, so that it forms asoft cushion running the entire length of the key- The keys arepartially shown as I and K and may be of the usual construction, as iscustomary in pianos. The cover E is hinged longitudinally to thefall-board F and may be opened and swung back to rest on the face of thelatter, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The fall-board Fis hinged atf to the support G in such a manner that after throwing back the coverE, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. I, thcsaid fall-board may be alsoturned back to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus exposing that portionof the keys necessary for the manipulation of the instrument and at thesame time closing the space between the shelf D and the upper portion ofthe keys.

The front portion of the fall-board when the piano is opened as abovedescribed presents a vertical face f to view from the front of thepiano, whereas its bottom face f extends rearwardly over the keys. Onthe lower corner of the rearward portion of the fall-board and extendinglongitudinally thereof for a short distance is a buffer f, as shown inFig. 2, the function of which will be hereinafter described. In the rearof the shelf D and near the middle thereof is journaled the lever L,which swings horizontally in the sleeve M, which is fastened to theshelf by the screw m. This lever is of peculiar configuration and hasits uppermost portion above the sleeve or pivot M constructed in theshape of a crank, as shown in Fig. 2, on the upper end of which lever isjournaled the roller Z on the crank portion Z This crank portion isdetachably and ad justably attached to the vertical portion F, as shownin detail in Fig. 4, in which Z* is a sleeve slipped over the upper endof the vertical portion Z the said sleeve having therein a horizontalslot Z This sleeve is fastened to the portion Z by the screw Z, whichpasses loosely through the slot Z and screws into a screw-hole in theupper end of the portion Z Thus by turning the sleeve, to which isattached the upper portion of the lever carrying the roller Z, the saidroller may be adjusted at any angle and fastened by tightening the screwZ, the purpose of which adjustment will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. The said lever L is journaled or pivoted in the sleeve M bymeans of screw-threads m but such means are merely shown for the purposeof illustration, and any other suitable means for pivoting the lever Lin the rear of the shelf D may be utilized and still be within the scopeof my invention. The vertical portion of the lever Z terminates at ashort distance below the sleeve M, and extending therefrom at a sharpangle are the braces Z and l, which support a curved portion of thelever Z. This curved portion terminates and runs into a straight portionZ which in turn terminates at the extreme lower end of the lever. Thesaid curved portion Z of the lever has its curvature alone in one plane,as shown in Fig. 3, the exact curvature being shown in Fig. 2, which istaken at right angles to Fig. 3. It is evident that the braces Z and Zmay be of any suitable configuration to suit the taste or some othermeans used in their place, their function being merely to maintain therelative position of the parts l and Z with the fulcrum of the lever.When the said lever L is hereinafter referred to as a horizontal lever,or pivoted horizontally, or in any other manner defining its movement asbeing horizontal, it is intended to mean that any point in the same whenmoved will describe a circle in a horizontal plane in contradistinctionto a lever otherwise pivoted, any point in which describes acircle in avertical or other plane. The said lever L is held normally in position,as shown in Fig. 1, by means of a spiral spring m which has its lowerend fastened to said lever and its upper end to the sleeve M. Anymovement of the lever out of this normal position is resisted by theforce of said spring, which also acts to return it to its normalposition when released.

Having now described the construction of my device, I will proceed toexplain the operation thereof. When it is desired to open the piano-thatis, to expose the keys in such a manner that they may be operated by theplayer-the cover E is turned backwardly on its hinges until it restsupon the fall-board F, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Thefallboard, together with the cover, is then turned back on its hinges funtil it comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 2, thus leavingthat portion of the keys I and K exposed to view as is customary in theart of pianos when the instrument is said to be open. During themovement of the fall-board from its position shown in Fig. 1 to itsposition shown in Fig. 2 its buffer portion f, which at the initialposition of the fall-board is in contact with the upper end of theportion Z of the lever L, by a sliding contact with said curved portionturns the said lever on its pivot until it comes to rest in the positionshown in Fig. 2, after which the said buffer portion continues itssliding engagement down the straight lower end of Z of the lever L untilthe fall-board comes to rest in its final position, as shown in Fig. 2.The turning of the lever by the engagement of the buffer on thefall-board with the curved portion heretofore mentioned effects theturning of the upper end of said lever from the position shown in Fig. 1to that shown in Fig. 2. During this movement the roller Z, journaled onthe upper end of the lever, by its movement in the path of a circle in ahorizontal plane operates or throws out the music-desk from the positionshown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2. This horizontal movement of thelever L is resisted by or is against the tension of the spring m whichlatter would operate to return the lever L back to its position shown inFig. 1 should it not be locked in some manner against such returnmovement. The yielding resistance offered by the lever to the fall-boardis to the top portion thereof and is continuous during the entiremovement of the fall-board from its closed to its open position, andthis yielding resistance, taken together with the sliding friction ofthe top of the fall-board along the curve Z gives to the movement apositive, uniform, and steady action, all of the parts being in closeengagement, thus leaving no chance for swinging or rattling; It isdistinctly understood that the spring acting upon the lever is notconfined to a coil-spring, as illustrated and described in thisspecification; but any spring or the equivalent thereof which is adaptedto be applied directly to any part of the lever to accomplish this samefunction is within the scope of my invention. When the fall-board hasreached the limit of its throw, the resistance of the spring is thrownout by means of a locking device. Such a locking arrangement is effectedby the straight por tion Z adjacent to the lower end of the lever, beingin contact with the buffer f of the fallboard. Thus the tendency of thelever L to return to its normal position, as shown in Fig. l, by virtueof the resistance of the spring m is resisted by the engagement of theStraight IIS portion Z of the lever with the said buffer, for

. tially tangent to a circle of which the hinge is the center. Neitheris it necessary that the lower end Z of the lever be straight, for itmight be curved downwardly and rearwardly or in any other direction,provided its direction was not downwardly and forwardly, since thelatter direction would always have a tendency to raise the fall-boardupwardly. Thus that portion of the lever which is engaged by a corner ofthe fall-board or its buffer consists, essentially, of two portions,theone being of such a configuration as to operate or turn the lever andthe other being of such a configuration as to lock the lever against areturn movement, and although I have shown that part of the lever whichis to be engaged by the fall-board for the purpose of moving the leveras being curved downwardly and rearwardly from the fall-board in itsinitial position I do not limit myself to such peculiar configuration ofthis portion of the lever as is illustrated and described, but reservethe right to utilize any other peculiar configuration that will performthis same functionas, for instance, a downwardly extending portionwherein the parts Z and Z are both straight and in alinement with eachother. The crank portion Z", on the end of which is journaled the rollerZ, may be adjusted by the screw and slot shown in Fig. 4:, so that theroller, when the lever is in its initial position, as shown in Fig. 1,may be either in contact with the back of the music-desk or a shortdistance in the rear thereof, as desired.

Although I have shown the lever journalet in a sleeve attached to theshelf D, it may be journaled in any other suitable location on theinstrument, as at the ends, respectively, of the fall-board, and,further, although I have shown one lever two or more may be utilized, asdesired.

Any other convenient means of hinging the fall-board may be used otherthan that shown and described, such as pins journaled in sockets at therespective ends of the board.

Although I have used various terms to describe my invention such ascover, fallboard, lever, pivot, roller, musicdesk, &c.yet I do not wishto be confined to the exact construction of these elements, but reservethe right to utilize any of the wellknow n equivalents of the samewithin the scope of my invention.

I am aware that heretofore there has existed in the art mechanism in therear of the fall-board for the purpose of operating the music-desk. I amalso aware that flexible fall-boards have been utilized to operatelevers in various ways for the purpose of throwing out the music-desk,and I am further aware that it has been common to utilize the rigidL-shaped fall-board to operate a verticalswinging lever to throw out amusic-desk; but I am not aware that a horizontal lever has ever beenused in this connection nor any type of lever which is in continuousengagement with the fall-board during its entire movement.

Having now fully described my invention, what I desire to claim andsecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a piano, the combination with aswinging music-desk and a rigid substantially L- shaped fall-boardpivotally secured near the base, of a lever in the rear of thefall-board adapted to swing horizontally and to be engaged by thefall-board to operate the musicdesk.

2. In a piano, the combination of a swinging music-desk and a swingingfall-board, with a lever adapted to swing horizontally and adapted tooperate the music-desk by an engagement of the fall-board with the saidlever.

3. In a piano, the combination with a swinging music-desk and a rigidsubstantially L- shaped fall-board, of a lever in the rear of thefall-board adapted to swing horizontally and to be engaged by thefall-board to operate the music-desk.

4. In a piano, the combination with the case of a substantially L-shapedfall-board pivotally secured therein near its base and adapted to befolded so as to pass under the ledge of the casing and close the spacebetween the ledge and the keys whether the fall-board be opened orclosed, a horizontally-swinging lever pivotally secured in the rear ofthe fallboard having a portion thereof on one side of and at somedistance from said pivot extending downwardly and curved in a planewhich intersects a vertical line dropped from said pivot, and the partadjacent to the lower end of said downwardly-extending portion beingstraight and in the said plane, where by the fall-board when thrown backso that its upper portion will be in a straight line between thestraight end of the lever and the hinge of the board, the said leverwill be locked against return movement, and a musicdesk in front of thecase adapted to be operated by the lever.

5. In a piano, the combination, with the case, of a substantiallyL-shaped fall-board pivotally secured therein near its base, and adaptedto be folded so as to pass under the ledge of the case and close thespace between the ledge and the keys whether the fall-board be open orclosed, a horizontal-swinging lever pivoted in the rear of the boardsaid lever having a portion thereof on one side of said pivot extendingdownwardly in the path of and adapted to be engaged by the upper portionof the fall-board, and a music-desk in front of the case adapted to beoperated by the lever.

6. In a piano,the combination,with the case, of a substantially L-shapedfall-board pivotally secured therein near its base, and adapted to befolded so as to pass under the ledge of the case and close the spacebetween the ledge and the keys whether the fall-board be open or closed,a horizontally-swinging lever pivotally secured in the rear of thefall-board said lever havingaportion thereof on one side of and at somedistance from said pivot extending downwardly and toward the verticalline of the pivot. and a music-desk in the front of the case adapted tobe operated by said lever. v

7. In a piano,the combinatiou,with the case, of a substantially L-shapedfall-board pivotally secured therein near its base, and adapted to befolded so as to pass under the ledge of the case and close the spacebetween the ledge and the keys whether the fall-board be open or closed,a horizontally-swinging lever pivotally secured in the rear of thefall-board having a portion thereof on one side of and at some distancefrom said pivot extending downwardly and curved in a plane whichintersects a vertical line dropped from said pivot, and a swingingmusic-desk adapted to be operated by said lever.

8. In a piano,the combination, with the case, of a substantiallyL-shaped fall-board pivotally secured therein near its base, and adaptedto be folded so as to pass under the ledge of the case and close thespace between the ledge and the keys whether the fall-board be open orclosed, a horizontally-swinging lever pivotally secured in the rear ofthe fall-board having a portion thereof one side of and at some distancefrom said pivot extendingdownwardly and curved in a plane whichintersects a vertical line dropped from said pivot, and having the partadjacent to the lower end of said downwardlyextending portion in astraight line in the said plane, and a musicdesk adapted to be operatedby said lever.

9. In a piano, the combination with a swing ing music-desk and a rigidsubstantially L- shaped fall-board of a horizontally-swinging leverpivoted in the rear of the fall-board a portion of said lever on oneside of its pivot extending into engagement with the moving fall-boardfor operating the music-desk, and another port-ion engaging thefall-board in its open position for locking it.

10. In a piano, the combination of a swinging music-desk and a rigidsubstantially L- shaped fall-board of a horizontally-swinging leverpivoted in the rear of the fall-board, a

' pivot extending into engagement-with the top fall-board in its openposition for looking it,

and a spring acting directly upon said lever to give the same a yieldingresistance to said fall-board during its entire movement.

12. In a piano, the combination with a swinging music-desk and a rigidsubstantially L-shaped fall-board of a horizontally-swing ingleverpivoted in the rear of said fall-board, a portion of said lever on oneside of its pivot extending into engagement with the upper portion ofsaid fall-board during the entire movement of the latter and a springacting directly upon said lever to give the same a yielding resistanceto said fall-board during said movement.

13. In a piano, the combination with a swinging music-desk and a rigidsubstantially L-shaped fall-board pivotally secured near its base of ahorizontally-swinging rigid lever pi votally secured in the rear of thefall-board and adapted to operate the music-desk by its continuousengagement with said fall-board, and a spring acting directly upon saidlever, to give the same a yielding resistance to said fall-board duringits entire movement.

14. In a piano, a case, a swinging musicdesk, a rigid substantiallyL-shaped fall-board pivotally secured to a rigid portion of the case,horizontally-swinging lever pivotally secured in the rear of thefall-board having a portion thereof on one side of its fulcrum andalways in engagement with the moving portion of the fall-board, and itsend on the opposite side of the fulcrum adapted to operate themusic-desk and a spring acting directly upon said lever to give the samea yielding resistance to said fall-board during said movement.

15. In a piano, a case, a swinging musicdesk, a rigid substantiallyL-shaped fall-board pivotally secured to a rigid portion of the case anda horizontally-swinging rigid lever pivotally secured in the rear of thefall-board having a portion thereof on one side of its pivot always incontact with, and in the path of the upper portion of said fall-boardand another portion on the opposite side of its pivot adapted to operatethe music-desk and a spring acting directly upon said lever to give thesame a yielding resistance to said fall-board during said movement.

16. In a piano, the combination with a portion of the said lever on oneside of its 1 swinging music-desk andarigid substantially with themoving fall-boardfor operating the music-desk and a spring actingdirectly upon said lever to give said lever a yielding resistance tosaid fall-board during its entire move ment.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM P. KELLY.

Witnesses:

PHILIP VIVIAN TIPPET, FREDERICK WV. HOLDEN.

